KR20150010651A - Digital broadcasting receiver, method of controlling a digital broadcasting receiver, sever, method of controlling a sever and computer-readable storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a digital broadcast receiver and a discovery information server. The digital broadcast receiver transmits a request for discovery information to a server and the request includes receiver profile information related to a current state of the digital broadcast receiver. The server identifies as the digital broadcast receiver an additional service available on the IP on the basis of the receiver profile information, and transmits the discovery information on the additional service to the receiver. Then the digital broadcast receiver determines a receiver channel number for locating the additional service on a channel guide on the basis of the received discovery information and logical channel numbers allocated to a plurality of broadcast services by broadcast providers, and creates the channel guide by including the additional service and a plurality of broadcast services of receiver channel numbers corresponding to logical channel numbers in the determined receiver channel number.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to a digital broadcasting receiver, a digital broadcasting receiver control method, a server, a server control method, and a computer readable medium. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a digital broadcasting receiver,

The present invention relates to a digital broadcast receiver, a digital broadcast receiver control method, a server, a server control method, and a computer readable medium, and more particularly, to a digital broadcast receiver capable of including an additional service in a channel guide using discovery information, A digital broadcast receiver control method, a server, a server control method, and a computer readable medium.

A broadcast receiver may receive and display content (e.g., TV and / or radio broadcast programs) on a plurality of channels received via a broadcast stream. The channel guide is displayed to list broadcast channels and display information about programs broadcast in a particular time window so that the user can review the available programs and select one of the programs for viewing. The channel guide may also be represented as an electronic program guide (EPG).

Conventional electronic program guides (EPGs) have been created using metadata supplied by broadcasters and have been created by broadcasters in a linear form assigned to logical channel numbers (LCNs) Limited to linear broadcast services. These logical channel numbers determine receiver channel numbers (RCNs), which are pre-stored preset numbers of services. Other services, such as VOD services and receiver functions, must be selected via menu screens. As more functions and other types of services were added, the user interface could become more complex because the user had to adjust through various menu screens to locate and select the desired functions or services. The present invention has been made in this context.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a digital broadcast receiver, a digital broadcast receiver control method, a server, a server control method, and a computer readable medium that can include an additional service in a channel guide using discovery information.

In order to achieve the above object, each receiver channel numbers (LCNs) corresponding to logical channel numbers (LCNs) allocated to a plurality of broadcast services according to an embodiment of the present invention The method comprising the steps of: requesting discovery information for an available supplementary service in a digital broadcast receiver; receiving discovery information for the supplementary service; receiving the discovery information and the plurality of Determining receiver channel numbers (RCNs) to locate the supplementary service in the channel guide, based on the logical channel numbers (RCNs) assigned to broadcast services; And receiving the supplementary services from the determined receiver channel numbers (RCNs) And generating the channel guide to display the plurality of broadcast services in the base channel numbers.

In this case, the request may include receiver profile information regarding the current state of the digital broadcasting receiver.

In this case, the discovery information defines a default logical channel number for the supplementary service, and the step of determining the receiver channel number to locate the supplementary service further comprises the steps of: determining a receiver channel number corresponding to the default logical channel number Selecting a different logical channel number in response to a conflict between the supplementary service and one of the broadcast services and using a receiver channel number corresponding to the different logical channel number for the supplementary service.

In this case, the discovery information includes alternative logical channel number information defining an alternative logical channel number for the supplementary service, and the alternative logical channel number includes a conflict in a receiver channel number corresponding to the default logical channel number May be selected as the different logical channel number for the supplementary service.

In this case, the discovery information may include logical channel number group information defining a plurality of logical channel number groups for a plurality of additional services including the additional service, Wherein the digital broadcast receiver control method further comprises: selecting a logical channel number group to which all receiver channel numbers corresponding to the logical channel numbers of the logical channel number group are available Further comprising selecting one of the plurality of logical channel number groups, wherein the plurality of services are configured to select one of the plurality of logical channel number groups in the channel number < RTI ID = 0.0 > .

The discovery information includes proximity logical channel number information defining a range of logical channel numbers and the other logical channel number is selected by selecting an available logical channel number within the defined range, A possible logical channel number may be a logical channel number for which the corresponding receiver channel number is available.

In this case, the discovery information includes a list including a plurality of alternative logical channel numbers corresponding to a determination that there are no available receiver channel numbers corresponding to the logical channel numbers within the defined range, and a list including a plurality of proximate logical channel numbers Wherein the digital broadcast receiver control method further comprises: determining whether a receiver channel number corresponding to the next alternate logical channel number in the list is available and a next defined range in the list Repeatedly confirming at least one of whether a receiver channel number corresponding to a logical channel number in the at least one logical channel number is available and when an available receiver channel number corresponding to the alternate logical channel number or the near logical channel number is found , The additional service To about may further comprise the step of selecting said available receiver channel number.

The method may further include receiving entry point server information through a broadcast stream, and locating an entry point server based on the received entry point server information, wherein the request for the discovery information May include transmitting the request to the entry point server.

The profile information includes at least one of local information for identifying a geographical area where the receiver is currently located, language setting information for identifying a current language setting of the receiver, a Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) One or more Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) mode identifiers (mode IDs) defining a type of channels included in the channel list, a manufacturer of the receiver, Product identification information identifying any one of the models of the receiver, version information identifying a software version currently installed in the receiver, and parental control information defining an acceptable age rating.

Meanwhile, the discovery information defines an age level for content provided by the supplementary service, and the digital broadcast receiver control method further includes a step of determining whether the content provided by the supplementary service is acceptable under the current parental control setting of the receiver By comparing an age rating defined for the supplementary service with an acceptable age rating defined by the parental control information, the supplementary service further comprising: And can be included in the channel guide correspondingly.

Meanwhile, the receiver may be a Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) receiver.

In this case, the discovery information is received as a service discovery and selection (SD & S) discovery record including a payload identifier ID, and the payload ID value is received by the received service discovery And Discovery (SD & S) Discovery records may be associated with fixed events.

Meanwhile, a server control method for providing discovery information according to the present embodiment includes: receiving a request for discovery information of an additional service available in a digital broadcast receiver from a digital broadcast receiver; Identifying additional services available in the digital broadcast receiver, generating discovery information for the identified supplementary services, and transmitting the discovery information to the digital broadcast receiver.

In this case, the request includes receiver profile information related to the current state of the digital broadcast receiver, and the identifying step includes: an additional service available on the digital broadcast receiver on the IP based on the receiver profile information, Can be identified.

In this case, the profile information includes at least one of local information for identifying a geographical area where the receiver is currently located, language setting information for identifying a current language setting of the receiver, a digital video broadcasting (DVB) Network Identifier (ONID), one or more Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) mode identifiers (mode IDs) defining the types of channels included in the channel list, At least one of product identification information for identifying one of the models of the receiver, version information for identifying a software version currently installed in the receiver, and parental control information for defining an acceptable age rating.

In this case, the profile information includes the parental control information, and the server control method determines whether the content provided by the supplementary service is acceptable under the current parental control setting of the receiver, Further comprising determining by comparing an acceptable age rating defined by the parental control information, wherein the discovery information for the supplementary service can only be transmitted in response to a determination that the content is acceptable.

Meanwhile, a digital broadcast receiver control (BS) having respective receiver channel numbers (RCNs) corresponding to logical channel numbers (LCNs) assigned to a plurality of broadcast services according to the present embodiment A method for controlling a digital broadcasting receiver, the method comprising: receiving a request for discovery information for an additional service available in a digital broadcasting receiver, the method comprising the steps of: Based on the received discovery information and the logical channel numbers (RCNs) assigned to the plurality of broadcast services, receiving the discovery information for the supplementary service, A receiver channel number < RTI ID = 0.0 > (Receiver C (RCNs) of the plurality of broadcast channel numbers, and determining the supplementary services at the determined receiver channel numbers (RCNs) And generating a guide.

Meanwhile, a digital broadcast receiver having respective receiver channel numbers (RCNs) corresponding to logical channel numbers (LCNs) assigned to a plurality of broadcast services according to the present embodiment A discovery request transmitter processed to request discovery information for an additional service available in the digital broadcast receiver, a discovery information receiver processed to receive discovery information for the supplementary service, Determines receiver channel numbers (RCNs) to locate the supplementary service on the channel guide based on the logical channel numbers (RCNs) assigned to the services, Number < / RTI > (Receiver Channel Numbers < RTI ID = 0.0 > In the receiver channel number and a processor that is processed to generate the channel guide to display the plurality of broadcast service.

In this case, the request includes receiver profile information regarding the current state of the digital broadcasting receiver.

Meanwhile, the server processed to provide the discovery information according to the present embodiment includes a discovery request receiver which is processed to receive a request for discovery information of an additional service available in a digital broadcast receiver from a digital broadcast receiver, A discovery information generation unit that is configured to generate discovery information for the identified supplementary service, and a processing unit that performs processing for transmitting the discovery information to the digital broadcast receiver Lt; / RTI > information transmitter.

Meanwhile, a computer-readable medium including a program for executing the server control method when the server control method for providing the discovery information according to the present embodiment is executed in a processor, Receiving a request for discovery information of an additional service available in the digital broadcast receiver, identifying an additional service available on the digital broadcast receiver on the IP, generating discovery information for the identified supplementary service, And transmitting the discovery information to the digital broadcasting receiver.

1 illustrates a user interface for displaying a channel guide including linear services and non-linear services according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a digital broadcast receiver according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a service discovery method.
4 is a diagram illustrating an entry point list descriptor for detailing a URL of an entry point server according to an embodiment of the present invention;
5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of determining a receiver channel number for an additional service according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 illustrates a replacement logical channel descriptor defining an alternative logical channel number for an additional service according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of determining a receiver channel number for an additional service according to an embodiment of the present invention;
8 is a diagram illustrating a proximal logical channel descriptor defining a range of channel numbers for an additional service according to an embodiment of the present invention;
9 is a block diagram illustrating a system including a digital broadcasting receiver and a server for providing discovery information to a receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method for determining whether to include an additional service in a channel guide according to an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing discovery information for an additional service according to an embodiment of the present invention;
12 is a flowchart illustrating a method for determining whether to transmit discovery information for an additional service to a receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention,
FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a server detailed in FIG. 9 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a diagram illustrating a user interface for displaying a channel guide including linear services and nonlinear services according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, similar to the conventional channel guide, The channel guide allows a user to review and select broadcast content from a plurality of channels. In accordance with an embodiment, the channel guide may be displayed on a display unit integrated with a digital broadcast receiver, or may be displayed on a physically separate display unit. For example, a digital broadcast receiver may be integrated into a television, or may be a set-top box connected to a television.

The channel guide 100 of the present embodiment includes a channel list 110. The channel list 110 may include, for example, a plurality of commands ordered by logical channels (LCNs), which may be assigned by a broadcaster or by a third party such as a regulatory body. Of linear services. Linear services are commonly referred to as channels, each containing a plurality of linear events. Each linear event represents a separate broadcast program. Here, 'linear' means that events in the service are broadcast in a linear fashion. That is, events in the linear service, in other words, are broadcast sequentially in a specific order a certain number of times. The linear service may be, for example, a radio frequency broadcasting service, a satellite broadcasting service, or an Internet protocol broadcasting service.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, the channel list displays six linear services (channels A through F), assigned to logical channel numbers 101, 102, 104, 113, 114 and 128. Linear services are displayed in the receiver channel numbers corresponding to the assigned logical channel numbers using the logical channel number value as the receiver channel numbers (RCNs) in the channel list. For example, the logical channel number 101 service may be displayed at the receiver channel number 101 in the channel list. These specific channels names, logical channel numbers and receiver channel numbers are illustrative. In other embodiments, other numbers of channels may be displayed in the channel list, and specific names and logical channel numbers may be assigned to the channels.

Within the channel list 110, channel identifiers for the displayed channels, e.g., " Channel A ", " Channel B ", etc. may be ordered according to logical channel numbers. The selection area for the linear events 111a, 111b, 111c within the specific time window can be displayed close to the channel identifiers. The channel identifiers and event identifiers may be defined, for example, by metadata that may be received on the IP or via a broadcast stream. Such metadata may also define, for example, logical channel numbers for linear services, broadcast times for linear events, and textual description of linear events.

To watch a program currently being broadcast on a particular channel, the user navigates through the channel list to the desired event. Any kind of interface can be used to guide the channel guide 100, for example, a conventional remote control or a motion recognition interface. In this example, the currently selected linear event is displayed by highlighting the current selection area. In this example, the second linear event 111b of channel B is selected.

Also, in this example, the channel guide 100 includes a preview window 120 and an event information display area 130. When the currently broadcast linear event is selected by the first user input, the visual content for the linear event can be displayed in the preview window 120 and information about the linear event can be displayed in the event information display area 130 . In some embodiments, the preview window 120 and the event information display area 130 may be omitted.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, the channel list 110 further includes two additional services labeled as Static Channel # 1 and Static Channel # 2. In embodiments of the invention, any number of supplementary services may be added to the channel list 110. The receiver may determine a receiver channel number for supplementary services based on the received service discovery information for the supplementary services.

In an embodiment of the invention, the supplementary services are " static " channels that include a plurality of events that are accessible at any time. Such events are now referred to as " fixed events " in order to be in contrast to conventional linear events that can only be accessed at a predetermined broadcast time. That is, the linear event disappears from the channel list after it is broadcasted, but the fixed event remains because it is not related to the specific broadcast time. Each fixed channel is referred to as a " non-linear service " in analogy to conventional broadcast channels, which are linear services. . However, the present invention is not limited to adding non-linear services as additional services in the channel list. In other embodiments, additional linear services may also be added to the list of other linear services. Examples of additional services that may be added are broadcast services where the default logical channel number is not valid in the current geographical area of the receiver or the receiver channel number corresponding to the default logical channel number value is already occupied by another broadcast service Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > broadcast services.

As described above, the width of each linear event in the channel list 110 is determined by the duration of the linear event. However, since fixed events are not associated with specific broadcast times, the receiver must determine the width of each fixed event in a different way. In an embodiment of the present invention, event discovery information may be received for each fixed event that includes a width attribute defining a fixed event width in the channel guide.

Unlike linear events, fixed events in the channel guide 100 are not limited to multimedia content. Fixed events can be used to select various receiver functions, in addition to accessing and playing back audio / video content. In this example, various kinds of fixed events are shown. As shown in FIG. 1, the second fixed channel 112 includes three fixed events 112a, 112b, and 112c. Depending on the user input that selects the first fixed event 112a (fixed event labeled " DVD ") in the second fixed channel 112, the receiver is processed to switch the input source for display from the broadcast stream to the connected DVD player . In response to a user input selecting a second fixed event 112b (a fixed event labeled " Browse Internet ") on the second fixed channel 112, the receiver processes the web browser application to start the web browser application to access the Internet with an appropriate network connection Depending on the user input selecting the third fixed event 112c (fixed event labeled " VOD ") on the second fixed channel 112, the receiver may allow the user to review and select the available VOD content And may be processed to display a VOD selection menu.

Figure 1 also shows other fixed events in the first fixed channel, labeled " My Video " and " My Music ". These fixed events can be used to retrieve content grouped by type. Depending on the user input selecting one of these fixed events, the receiver may be processed to display information about the motion picture files or music files stored for the current user profile, respectively. Video files or music files may be stored locally on a hard disk drive, or other storage, for example, and / or stored remotely, for example, in a cloud-based storage.

Fixed events are not limited to the activities described above. Other activities that may be performed depending on the particular fixed events selected include, but are not limited to: connection to a server to receive and play online voice and / or video content (e.g., When associated with a content item); Connect to a local source to receive and play local audio and / or video content (e.g., when a fixed event is associated with a particular item of locally recorded content); Launching a web browser application for displaying a particular web page identified by the URL contained in the event discovery information for the selected fixed event; Display a banner on a channel guide (e.g., an advertisement for a scheduled program on a particular broadcast channel); And set reminders for linear events because they will be broadcast at a preset time in the future.

Another example of a function that can be selected as a fixed event is to initiate a separate channel guide, which may be referred to as a 'sub-guide'. Here, one or more linear services and / or one or more non-linear services may be selected and displayed according to predetermined criteria. For example, the 'news' sub-guide can only select and display news channels, and the 'sports' sub-guide can only select and display sports channels.

The use of fixed events offers the advantage that heterogeneous content sources can join together into one content list. For example, content recorded locally with the VOD content may be added to the channel list in addition to conventional broadcast content. In contrast, in conventional broadcast receivers, the channel list can only display broadcast content, meaning that the user must be guided away from the channel list to access other kinds of content (e.g., VOD content). The need to go through additional menu screens for accessing non-broadcast content is desirable because additional processing time and power are used to create and display different menu screens, Which means it is slower to guide and consume resources.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling a digital broadcasting receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2, in this embodiment, the receiver is a digital video broadcast (DVB) receiver, but in other embodiments, other broadcasting standards may be used. Any step of the invention may be performed by software instructions executed on a general-purpose processor of the receiver, or may be performed by dedicated hardware.

In order to determine where to place the supplementary service in the channel guide, the digital broadcast receiver may use the method shown in FIG. 2 to obtain the discovery information for the supplementary service.

First, in step S201, a receiver performs a service discovery by transmitting a request for discovery information to a service discovery server. The discovery request may include receiver profile information related to the current state of the digital broadcast receiver. The service discovery server may use the receiver profile information to identify one or more additional services available in a digital broadcasting receiver.

Examples of the types of information that may be included in the receiver information include, but are not limited to: area information identifying a geographical area in which the receiver is currently located; Language setting information identifying the current language setting of the receiver; DVB Original Network Identifier (ONID); One or more digital video broadcasting mode identifiers (DVB mode identifiers (modeIDs)) defining the types of channels to be included in the channel list; Product identification information identifying the manufacturer and / or model of the receiver; Version information identifying the software version currently installed in the receiver; Parental control information that defines a viewable age rating. For example, the service discovery server can identify additional services available in the current geographical area of the receiver, compatible with installed software versions and parental control settings of the receiver.

Next, in step S202, the digital broadcast receiver receives discovery information for the supplementary service from the service discovery server. Here, discovery information for a certain number of additional services may be received, which depends on how many additional services are identified by the server as being available in the digital broadcast receiver.

Then, in step S203, the digital broadcasting receiver transmits a receiver channel number (RCN) for positioning the additional service in the channel guide to the received discovery information and the broadcast provider Based on the logical channel numbers assigned to the plurality of broadcast services. Methods for determining the logical channel number and its corresponding receiver channel number for additional services are described in further detail below.

Next, in step S204, a digital broadcasting receiver can generate a channel guide. When creating the channel guide, the digital broadcast receiver includes an additional service in the determined receiver channel number (RCN), each receiver channel numbers corresponding to the logical channel numbers assigned to the broadcast services Receiver Channel Number (RCN)).

In the digital video broadcast embodiments of the present invention, the discovery information may be received as a service discovery and selection (SD & S) discovery record. In digital video broadcasting systems, SD & S discovery records may be provided in an Extensible Markup Language (XML) format and may include a payload identifier (ID) announcing the type of discovery information included in the record .

In embodiments of the present invention, the new payload ID value may be defined as something in which the received SD & S discovery record appears as a digital broadcast receiver associated with a fixed event. Examples of digital video broadcast payload ID values are shown in Table 1 and may include a new payload ID value (oxFo) indicating that the discovery record is associated with an additional service. In other embodiments, any unused payload ID value may be defined for additional service discovery information.

Payload ID value Type of record ox01 Service Provider Discovery Information ox02 Broadcast Discovery Information ox05 Package Discovery Information ox06 BCG Discovery Information oxF0 Additional Services Discovery Information

3 is a flowchart illustrating a service discovery method.

Referring to FIG. 3, service discovery is an easily understood process for identifying services available to a recipient, and a detailed description is not provided here. In DVB receivers, the service discovery process is referred to as service discovery and selection (SD & S). In steps S201 and S202 of FIG. 2, discovery information is requested and received from the server, which may be performed as part of the SD & S process shown in FIG. The service discovery method as shown in FIG. 3 may be performed by the receiver initially and / or at any other time that is requested.

First, in step S301, the receiver can bootstrap itself by determining the positions of one or more entry point servers. Conventional DVB receivers can be used by obtaining a list of entry point servers via a domain name system (DNS) lookup by using hardcoded addresses in the receiver, D < / RTI > entry points by obtaining a list of domain names and then performing a DNS lookup to identify the entry points.

Next, in step S302, the receiver can collect service provider (SP) discovery information from each entry point identified in step S301. The SP discovery information may identify the SPs that provide DVB-IPTV services in the network to which the receiver is connected. In embodiments of the present invention, the receiver may collect SP discovery information by sending a request for discovery information to the entry point server, as described in step S201 of FIG. That is, the receiver may include receiver profile information in the request sent to the entry point server. By providing detailed information.

Then, in step S303, the receiver can collect DVB-IP service discovery information for each SP identified in step S302. The DVB-IP service discovery information for a particular SP can identify the individual services provided by that SP. The receiver may also collect event discovery information for individual events within each service. After completing step S3203, the receiver can make a list of all available services from all available SPs.

Returning to step S301, in embodiments of the present invention, a mechanism is further provided for determining an entry point that may be used in place of or in addition to the conventional mechanism. Specifically, in an embodiment of the present invention, a digital broadcast receiver can be processed to receive entry point server information over a broadcast stream and can be processed to locate the entry point server based on the received entry point server information . In this embodiment, the receiver can send a request for discovery information (step S202 of FIG. 2) using step S302 of FIG. 3, i.e., requesting SP discovery information from an entry point server specified through the broadcast stream . The receiver can then continue to collect DVB-IP service discovery information for each SP. This approach allows broadcasters to advertise their entry point server location to receivers, in order to add new services in addition to existing broadcast services.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an entry point list descriptor for detailing a URL of an entry point server according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.

Referring to FIG. 4, the syntax shown in FIG. 4 is shown as an example of a format suitable for entry point server information in a digital video broadcast (DVB) embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to the syntax shown in FIG. 4, and in other embodiments, other formats may be used for entry point server information transmitted over the broadcast stream.

As shown in FIG. 4, the entry point list descriptor includes an entry point URL character element, which can be used to convey a uniform resource locator (URL) of the entry point server. The entry point URL The entry point_url_length element specifies the number of properties of the URL, and the entry point list size (entrypoint_list_size) specifies the number of entry points included in the list. In general, the entry point list descriptor (entrypoint_list_descriptor) Number of entry points.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of determining a receiver channel number for an additional service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, steps S501, S502, and S506 are the same as steps S201, S202, and S204 of FIG. 2, respectively, and the detailed description thereof is not repeated here.

After receiving the discovery information for the supplementary service in step S502, the digital broadcast receiver receives the supplementary service and the broadcast service of the default logical channel number defined by the discovery information for the supplementary service in step S503. It is possible to check whether there is a collision. If one of the broadcast services is assigned to a logical channel number such as the default logical channel number already defined by the discovery information for the supplementary service, then there is a conflict.

In step S504, in response to the collision between the supplementary service and one of the broadcast services of the receiver channel number corresponding to the default logical channel number for the supplementary service, the digital broadcast receiver generates, based on the alternative logical channel number information Other receiver channel numbers for additional services may be selected. In an embodiment of the invention, the discovery information for the supplementary service may include alternative logical channel number information defining an alternative logical channel number for the supplementary service. In step S504, the alternative logical channel number may be selected as another logical channel number for the supplementary service, and in step S506, the supplementary service may be included in the channel guide in the receiver channel number corresponding to the alternative logical channel number.

On the other hand, if there is no collision, the digital broadcast receiver can use the default logical channel number for the supplementary service in step S505, and the supplementary service can be included in the channel guide in the receiver channel number corresponding to the default logical channel number in step S506.

6 is a diagram illustrating a replacement logical channel descriptor defining an alternative logical channel number for an additional service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 6, the alternative logical channel descriptor may include a logical_channel_number element having an alternative logical channel number for the supplementary service. Any number of alternate logical channel numbers can be defined by being specified with a list length element. When a plurality of alternative logical channel numbers are defined, the digital broadcast receiver iteratively verifies whether the next alternate logical channel number is available in the list, i.e., if the next alternate logical channel number is < RTI ID = Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > of broadcast services. ≪ / RTI > The first available logical channel number of the plurality of alternative logical channel numbers may be selected as the logical channel number for the supplementary service. That is, the first alternate logical channel number defined in the alternate logical channel descriptor may be preferentially selected over the second alternate logical channel number, and the second alternate logical channel number may be preferentially selected over the third alternate logical channel number .

The syntax shown in FIG. 6 may be used for alternative logical channel number information in the digital video broadcast embodiments of the present invention. However, in other embodiments, other formats may be used.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of determining a receiver channel number for an additional service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 7, the method of Figure 7 is similar to the method of Figure 5, and the detailed description of similar features will not be repeated. In particular, steps S701, S702, S703, S705, and S706 are the same as S501, S502, S503, S505, and S506, respectively.

However, the method of FIG. 7 differs from the method of FIG. 5 in that the discovery information includes neighboring LCN information that defines a range of channel numbers, instead of defining a particular alternate logical channel number different. According to the collision detected in step S703, the digital broadcast receiver can select a logical channel number for the supplementary service by selecting a logical channel number available within the defined range in step S704. In step S706, May be included in the channel guide at the receiver channel number corresponding to the selected available logical channel number. Here, 'available logical channel number' means the logical channel number for which the corresponding receiver channel number is available.

8 is a diagram illustrating a proximal logical channel descriptor defining a range of channel numbers for an additional service according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, in the present invention, the proximity logical channel descriptor (neighbour_logical_channel_descriptor) includes one or more max_distance elements that define a logical channel number range in terms of the maximum distance from another logical channel number For example, the default logical channel number defined by the discovery information. This allows the service provider to inform the receiver that the supplementary service should be located at the receiver channel number closest to the default channel number, from the default logical channel number to a certain maximum distance. Similarly, in some embodiments, the maximum distance may be defined for alternate logical channel numbers specified by alternate logical channel descriptors, as shown in FIG. In addition, in other embodiments, the logical channel number range may be defined differently, for example, by specifying logical channel numbers at either end of the logical channel number range, the logical channel number range may be defined differently.

Also, in some embodiments of the invention, the discovery information for the supplementary service may define a combination of one or more alternate logical channel numbers and one or more ranges of proximate logical channel numbers with relative priority . For example, the discovery information may indicate that the available logical channel number within the proximate logical channel number range is selected in preference to the defined alternate logical channel number, or that the alternative logical channel number is a logical channel number from the proximate logical channel number range The number can be indicated to be selected in preference to the number.

As in FIG. 6, the syntax shown in FIG. 8 may be used for the proximate logical channel number information in the digital video broadcast embodiments of the present invention. However, other formats may be used in other embodiments.

9 is a block diagram illustrating a system including a digital broadcast receiver and a server for providing discovery information to a receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention.

9, the system includes a digital broadcast receiver 900, a discovery information server 910, a broadcaster 901a, a display 904a, and a remote controller 905a. The digital broadcast receiver 900 can implement the method as described in FIG. 2 to add additional services to the channel guide.

The digital broadcast receiver 900 includes a receiver 901, a discovery request transmitter 902, a discovery information receiver 903, a processor 904, a user input receiver 905, and a parental control 906. In some embodiments, if parental control is not required, parental control 906 may be omitted. Receiver 901 may be processed to receive a plurality of linear services from a broadcaster 901a, e.g., via a terrestrial, satellite RF stream, or IP phase. The discovery request transmitter 902 may be processed to send a request for discovery information to the discovery information server 910 and the discovery information receiver 903 may be processed to receive event discovery information from the discovery information server 910 have.

The discovery information server 910 includes a discovery request receiver 911 adapted to receive a request for discovery information from the digital broadcast receiver 900 and a discovery information transmitter 910 adapted to transmit the discovery information to the digital broadcast receiver 900. [ (912). Both the discovery information and the request can be sent on the same interface between the digital broadcast receiver 900 and the discovery information server 910, or on other interfaces. In an embodiment of the invention, the request and the discovery information are transmitted over IP, and the Discovery Request Transmitter 902, Discovery Information Receiver 903, Discovery Request Receiver 911, and Discovery Information Transmitter 912, Lt; / RTI >

In an embodiment of the present invention, the digital broadcast receiver 900 may be implemented as an STB, and the display portion 904a may be a television connected to the STB. That is, the digital broadcast receiver 900 and the display unit 904a may be physically separate. The processor 904 is processed to control the display portion 904a to display the channel guide, which includes a plurality of linear services and a non-linear service, as shown in FIG. However, in other embodiments, the digital broadcast receiver 900 and the display portion 904a may be physically implemented as a single device. In response to a user input for selecting a fixed event in a non-linear service from the channel guide, for example, the processor 904 may perform one of a plurality of predetermined activities corresponding to the type of fixed event selected by the user input have.

In an embodiment of the invention, the user input receiver 905 is processed from a remote controller 905a to receive user input, for example, on an infrared (IR) link. However, the present invention is not limited to receiving user input in this manner. In other embodiments, the user input may be received differently. For example, the user input receiver 905a may include a motion tracking, eye tracking, or voice recognition interface, or a key-based user interface included in the digital broadcast receiver 900 that is adapted to directly detect user input interface.

10 is a flowchart illustrating a method for determining whether to include an additional service in a channel guide according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10, steps S1001, S1002, S1004, and S1005 are the same as steps S201, S202, S203, and S204 of FIG. 2, respectively, and detailed description thereof will not be repeated here. Also in step S1004, the logical channel number may be determined using any of the methods described above (e.g., as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7).

In an embodiment of the invention, the discovery information may define an age rating for the content provided by the supplementary service. Before determining the receiver channel number for the supplementary service, the digital broadcast receiver determines whether the content provided by the supplementary service is acceptable under the current parental control setting of the receiver, the age rating defined for the supplementary service, By comparing the acceptable age rating as defined by < RTI ID = 0.0 > This confirmation can be performed by the parental control unit shown in Fig. In response to the determination that the content is acceptable, the digital broadcast receiver can proceed only steps S1004 and S1005 to include additional services in the channel guide at the receiver channel number corresponding to the alternative logical channel number. If it is determined in step S1003 that the content provided by the supplementary service is not acceptable, the digital broadcast receiver may not add the supplementary service to the channel guide in step S1006. This method ensures that content that is inappropriate for the current age rating setting at the receiver is not displayed in the channel guide.

Although in the embodiment of the present invention, the age class is confirmed before the logical channel number is determined in step S1004, but in another embodiment, step S1003 may be performed simultaneously with step S1004, or may be performed after step S1004 have. Generally, step S1003 may be performed any time after receiving the discovery information for the supplementary service (S1002) and before generating the channel guide (S1005).

11 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing discovery information for an additional service according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method of FIG. 11 can be performed by the discovery information server of FIG.

Referring to FIG. 11, in step S1101, the server may receive a request for discovery information from a digital broadcast receiver. As described above, the request may include receiver profile information associated with the current state of the digital broadcast receiver. Then, in step S1102, the server can identify an additional service available to the digital broadcast receiver on the IP based on the receiver profile information. Next, in step S1103, the server generates discovery information for the identified supplementary service, and in step S1104, the server can transmit the discovery information to the digital broadcasting receiver.

12 is a flowchart illustrating a method for determining whether to transmit discovery information for an additional service to a receiver according to an embodiment of the present invention. The method of Figure 12 allows parental control to be performed at the server end.

Referring to FIG. 12, steps S1201, S1202, S1204, and S1205 correspond to steps S1101, S1102, S1103, and S1104 in FIG. However, in an embodiment of the invention, the profile information may include parental control information defining an acceptable age rating. In step S1203, the server determines whether content provided by the supplementary service is acceptable under the current parental control setting of the receiver by comparing the age rating for the supplementary service and the acceptable age rating defined by the parental control information If it is determined that the content is acceptable, the server can generate and transmit discovery information in steps S1204 and S1205.

On the other hand, if it is determined in step S1203 that the content provided by the supplementary service is not acceptable, the server may not transmit the discovery information for the supplementary service to the digital broadcast receiver in step S1206. This method ensures that content that is not suitable for the current age rating setting at the receiver is not displayed in the channel guide. Also, compared to the method of FIG. 10, applying parental control filtering on the server has the advantage that discovery information is not sent unnecessarily to the receiver.

Although in the embodiment of the present invention, the age class is confirmed before generating the discovery information in step S1204, but in another embodiment, step S1203 may be performed simultaneously with step S1204 or after step S1204. Generally, step S1203 may be performed at any time after identifying the available supplementary services (S1202) and before transmitting the discovery information (S1205).

FIG. 13 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a server detailed in FIG. 9 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

13, in addition to the discovery request receiver 911 and the discovery information transmitter 912, the server 910 includes a service identification unit 913, a discovery information generator 914, and a parental control unit 915. The service identification unit 913 can inquire the service database 913a included in the server 910 or accessible remotely. The discovery information generator 914 may generate the discovery information using any of the methods described above. The parental control unit 915 can apply parental control filtering using the same method as shown in Fig. In some embodiments, parental control 915 may be omitted.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described in which a non-linear service includes a plurality of fixed events. That is, events that are accessible at any time rather than only a specified time period. In some embodiments, the non-linear service may include one or more linear events in addition to the fixed events. In such embodiments, since the linear event is associated with a particular broadcast time, the linear event can be displayed near the non-linear service identifier, along with the fixed events, when the channel guide displays the time window in which the linear event is broadcast have. When the channel guide displays another time window, beyond the broadcast time range of the linear event, the channel guide can display only fixed events.

Embodiments of the present invention describe that additional services such as linear services and non-linear services are included in the channel list. As shown in FIG. 1, the supplementary service can be assigned to a receiver channel number corresponding to its own logical channel number by using the logical channel number value as the receiver channel number for the supplementary service. In general, any receiver channel number that is not used can be used for additional services, i.e. any receiver channel number that is not already in use by another service can be used. The receiver channel number may be determined by the receiver based on the received service discovery information. In some embodiments, the supplementary service may not be assigned to a receiver channel number, but may be inserted between two linear services in the channel list. In this case, the supplementary service may be included in the determined receiver channel number by inserting the supplementary service into the nearby channel list, that is, just before or immediately after the linear service displayed next to the determined receiver channel number. The service discovery information can identify where the supplementary service is inserted in the channel list. In other embodiments, the plurality of supplementary services may share the same logical channel number that may be defined by the service discovery information.

Embodiments of the present invention have been described in connection with digital broadcast receivers, particularly digital video broadcast receivers (DVB receivers). However, the present invention is not limited to digital video broadcasting systems. For example, other embodiments of the present invention may be used in place of a digital video broadcasting system, such as an Open IPTV Forum (OIPF) system, a Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE) (ATSC) system or an Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting (ISDB) system.

While specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein with reference to the drawings, it will be appreciated that many variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

Claims (21)

A digital broadcast receiver control method having respective receiver channel numbers (RCNs) corresponding to logical channel numbers (LCNs) assigned to a plurality of broadcast services,
Requesting discovery information for an additional service available in a digital broadcast receiver;
Receiving discovery information for the supplementary service;
And a receiver channel number (RSSI) to locate the supplementary service in the channel guide based on the received discovery information and the logical channel numbers (RCNs) allocated to the plurality of broadcast services. (RCNs)); And
And generating the channel guide to display the supplementary services and the plurality of broadcast services in respective receiver channel numbers at the determined receiver channel numbers (RCNs). A method for controlling a digital broadcast receiver. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the request includes receiver profile information regarding a current state of the digital broadcasting receiver. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the discovery information defines a default logical channel number for the supplementary service,
Wherein determining the receiver channel number to locate the supplementary service further comprises determining a different logical channel number in response to a conflict between the supplementary service and one of the broadcast services at a receiver channel number corresponding to the default logical channel number And using a receiver channel number corresponding to the different logical channel number for the supplementary service. The method of claim 3,
Wherein the discovery information includes alternative logical channel number information defining an alternative logical channel number for the supplementary service,
Wherein the alternative logical channel number is selected as the different logical channel number for the supplementary service in response to a collision in a receiver channel number corresponding to the default logical channel number. 5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the discovery information includes logical channel number group information defining a plurality of logical channel number groups for a plurality of additional services including the additional service,
Each of the logical channel number groups comprising a plurality of alternative logical channel numbers for the plurality of services,
The digital broadcasting receiver control method includes:
Further comprising: selecting one of the plurality of logical channel number groups by selecting a logical channel number group to which all receiver channel numbers corresponding to logical channel numbers of the logical channel number group are available,
Wherein the plurality of services are included in the channel guide in the respective receiver channel numbers corresponding to the logical channel numbers of the selected logical channel number group. The method according to claim 3, 4, or 5,
Wherein the discovery information includes proximity logical channel number information defining a range of logical channel numbers,
The other logical channel number is selected by selecting an available logical channel number within the defined range,
Wherein the available logical channel number is a logical channel number for which a corresponding receiver channel number is available. The method according to claim 6,
Wherein the discovery information includes a list comprising a plurality of alternative logical channel numbers and a plurality of proximate logical channel number ranges corresponding to the determination that there are no available receiver channel numbers corresponding to the logical channel numbers within the defined range At least one of the list including the list can be further defined,
The digital broadcasting receiver control method includes:
Repeatedly confirming at least one of whether a receiver channel number corresponding to the next alternate logical channel number is available in the list and a receiver channel number corresponding to which logical channel number in the next defined range in the list is available step; And
Further comprising selecting the available receiver channel number for the supplementary logical channel number or when an available receiver channel number corresponding to the proximate logical channel number is found, Receiver control method. 6. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 5,
Receiving entry point server information through a broadcast stream; And
And positioning the entry point server based on the received entry point server information,
Wherein the transmitting the request for the discovery information comprises:
And transmitting the request to the entry point server. 6. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 5,
Wherein the profile information comprises:
(DVB) original network identifier (ONID), language setting information for identifying a current language setting of the receiver, area information for identifying a geographical area where the receiver is currently located, language setting information for identifying a current language setting of the receiver, a Digital Video Broadcasting One or more Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) mode identifiers (mode IDs) that define the types of channels included in the channel list, a manufacturer of the receiver and a model of the receiver And parental control information that defines an acceptable age level. The method of claim 1, wherein the parental control information comprises at least one of parental control information, parental control information, parental control information, and parental control information. 6. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 5,
Wherein the discovery information defines an age level for content provided by the supplementary service,
The digital broadcasting receiver control method includes:
Determining whether the content provided by the supplementary service is acceptable under the current parental control setting of the receiver by comparing the age rating defined for the supplementary service with the acceptable age rating defined by the parental control information; Further comprising the steps of:
Wherein the additional service is included in the channel guide only in response to a determination that the content is acceptable. 6. The method according to any one of claims 2 to 5,
Wherein the receiver is a Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) receiver. 12. The method of claim 11,
The discovery information is received as a Service Discovery and Selection (SD & S) discovery record that includes a payload identifier ID,
Wherein the payload ID value indicates that the received service discovery and selection (SD & S) discovery record is associated with a fixed event. A server control method for processing discovery information,
Receiving, from a digital broadcast receiver, a request for discovery information of an additional service available in a digital broadcast receiver;
Identifying, on the IP, an additional service available at the digital broadcast receiver;
Generating discovery information for the identified supplementary services; And
And transmitting the discovery information to the digital broadcasting receiver. 14. The method of claim 13,
Wherein the request includes receiver profile information related to a current state of the digital broadcast receiver,
Wherein the identifying comprises:
Identifying an additional service available in the digital broadcast receiver on the IP based on the receiver profile information. 15. The method of claim 14,
Wherein the profile information comprises:
(DVB) original network identifier (ONID), language setting information for identifying a current language setting of the receiver, area information for identifying a geographical area where the receiver is currently located, language setting information for identifying a current language setting of the receiver, a Digital Video Broadcasting One or more Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) mode identifiers (mode IDs) that define the types of channels included in the channel list, a manufacturer of the receiver and a model of the receiver And parental control information for defining an acceptable age rating. The server control method according to claim 1, wherein the parental control information includes at least one of parental control information, parental control information, parental control information, and parental control information. 16. The method of claim 15,
Wherein the profile information includes the parental control information,
The server control method includes:
Determining whether the content provided by the supplementary service is acceptable under the current parental control setting of the receiver by comparing an age rating for the supplementary service with an acceptable age rating defined by the parental control information; Including,
Wherein the discovery information for the additional service is transmitted only in response to a determination that the content is acceptable. When a digital broadcast receiver control method having respective receiver channel numbers (RCNs) corresponding to logical channel numbers (LCNs) allocated to a plurality of broadcast services is executed in the processor, A computer-readable medium including a program for executing the digital broadcast receiver control method,
The digital broadcasting receiver control method includes:
Requesting discovery information for an additional service available in a digital broadcast receiver;
Receiving discovery information for the supplementary service;
And a receiver channel number (RSSI) to locate the supplementary service in the channel guide based on the received discovery information and the logical channel numbers (RCNs) allocated to the plurality of broadcast services. (RCNs)); And
And generating the channel guide to display the supplementary services and the plurality of broadcast services in respective receiver channel numbers at the determined receiver channel numbers (RCNs). Computer readable medium. 1. A digital broadcast receiver having respective receiver channel numbers (RCNs) corresponding to logical channel numbers (LCNs) assigned to a plurality of broadcast services,
A discovery request transmitter processed to request discovery information for an additional service available in the digital broadcast receiver;
A discovery information receiver that is arranged to receive discovery information for the supplementary service; And
A receiver channel number (RBs) to locate the supplementary service on the channel guide based on the received discovery information and the logical channel numbers (RCNs) allocated to the plurality of broadcast services (RCNs), and to generate the channel guide to indicate the plurality of broadcast services in the supplementary services and the respective receiver channel numbers in the determined receiver channel numbers (RCNs) And a processor coupled to the processor. 19. The method of claim 18,
Wherein the request includes receiver profile information regarding a current state of the digital broadcasting receiver. A server that is processed to provide discovery information,
From a digital broadcast receiver, a discovery request receiver that is processed to receive a request for discovery information of an additional service available in the digital broadcast receiver;
On the IP, a service identification unit that is processed to identify an additional service available in the digital broadcast receiver;
A discovery information generation unit to generate discovery information for the identified supplementary services; And
And a discovery information transmitter configured to transmit the discovery information to the digital broadcasting receiver. A computer-readable medium including a program for executing a server control method when a server control method that is processed to provide discovery information is executed in a processor,
The server control method includes:
Receiving, from a digital broadcast receiver, a request for discovery information of an additional service available in a digital broadcast receiver;
Identifying, on the IP, an additional service available at the digital broadcast receiver;
Generating discovery information for the identified supplementary services; And
And transmitting the discovery information to the digital broadcast receiver.

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